Leer!

photo extracted from imgfaves

Ella va en una adventura! (con ella gatina). Ah... que cute.

My Life in France: by Julia Child w/ Alex Prud d'homme

I enjoyed reading this book immensely. I devoured the words and details just as Julia Child did her Sole Meuniére the first time she went to her la belle France. This book to me was mainly a travelogue with gastronomy as the main purpose and Sacré bleu! How it transported me. 

The novel chronicles Julia's years in France, her escapades through the little towns all over the country, her culinary adventures, building relationships with fellow food lovers, her time and in detail at Lé Cordon Bleu and the hurdles of book publishing.

The book is very well written in narrative form and one almost walked, thought and felt as Julia did as she imbibed France even to the aroma of the streets in Marseilles. France is made beautiful by her in this book and I like her feet-to-the-ground approach in dining and touring, preferring local flavors or “holes in the wall” restaurants and finding kindred among the culinary enthusiasts in those circles. It is also touching that her husband is given the due that he deserves as Julia's financier during her Lé Cordon Bleu days, being a great support and a gateway to notable contacts for her.

Do give this a tumble, you won't regret it and like any good book, there is the objective to finish it, but you'll feel sad when it ends. 

~~~

Redecorating The House

Mostly from Ikea and a few hand me downs as well as flea finds - all around the house these days. 

sofa

Bookshelf

Hand me down piano

Blue Birdy

Dining Area

Cook!

Sleep 1

Bath 1

Sleep 2

Bath 2

Office

that one too...

Inspiration Station: Bedroom 2

This design is brought to you by Mr Waller of New South Wales. The only components I see in this bedroom so far are as follows: bed, vaulted ceiling, chair, bedside table, shelves, books, books and more books! Pretty easy don't you think? 

One of the factors that inspire me in design is it's feasibility for me personally, hence, most of the photos I share which I deem as inspiring are minimalist, rustic and simple with practical focal points. Why? because it just doesn't make sense to look and aspire for something that remains in fantasy land. 

... and this bedroom meets all my requirements as inspiration.

The E Book, oh dear...

Finally caught up with the rest of the world with the e-book phenom and I will try the classics that come free from the program first, hehe... Don't get me wrong, I have some comparing and contrasting to do with it and believe me, I will gauge the tool for it's efficacy and expediency before spewing praises for it. 

For example: Does using the e-book make me read faster? comprehend the book better, is it cheaper or will I stick to it just because I want to look hip in this day and age? Heaven forbid! 

Anyhoo, on with the reading, hey! there is a ton of classics available for free here, that's one plus right there! Did I already mention that? I did didn't I?

Will keep you posted, Ciao!

One Resolution Reminder

Love this photo of wall art from Mr. Perswall. I indeed resolved to read more this year - and make time for it because I miss it. 

My only stipulation with this resolution is I have to do my Bible devotions - firstly and completely - before I delve into secular books...

Books by British Domestic Godesses from a Great Friend

I just got these books from my friend Graes through the mail:

1. A Taste of the Sun by Elizabeth David

2. Campaign for Domestic Happiness by Isabella Beeton

3. A Little Dinner Before The Play by Agnes Jekyll

&

4. Everlasting Syllabub and the Art of Carving

All these books are about keeping the house, techniques on how to work on livestock, poultry and home grown vegetables, turn them into scrumptious dishes, the old fashioned way. These books will also give an insight to how the early 20th century chefs/cooks managed their households.

Boy, am I excited to get my hands (and eyes) on these and tell you all about it, if thou be interested. 

Homeless Books

Since converting one of the rooms to a home office, a lot of my books have become displaced, "homeless" or shelf-less. To the right of this nook (not in the picture), dwells a tower of more books from the floor to the ceiling and to the left - magazines. Admittedly, I do like the photo here where the books are situated at the moment.

Not to worry, a day will come (hopefully sometime soon) when my books will have a new and nice space to rest upon again...

400 years of The King James Bible 1611: A Tribute

 Shown above is my King James Bible (a study Bible).

It would be a great blunder on my part if I let this year go by and not mention this Holy Book that guides me everyday, succors me in times of need, reprimands me befittingly in transgressions and ultimately reveals God to me.

The King James Bible AV 1611.

This year marks the Holy Bible's 400th anniversary of having been completed in the English language. Completed from the Textus Receptus (Received Texts) with the original Hebrew in the Old Testament and Greek in the New Testament, the history of this Book's realization is dipped in blood of martyrs and defenders of the Faith. In the end though, the grace of God prevailed when after the prayer of William Tyndale before his death, King James I's eyes were opened and 54 scholars painstakingly and with reverence translated (not created - as Wikipedia states) the Bible in 7 years from its original languages (Old testament in Hebrew; New Testament Greek).

Why the King James Bible one might ask? to illustrate a few, I point out I John 5:7, a verse which chronicles the oneness of the Holy Trinity, also in Revelation 1:12 where Jesus is identified as "Alpha and Omega" and in John 10.30 where The Lord reiterates that He and The Father are one; in other versions these verses are either altered to mean differently or are blotted out completely, but this is not so in the King James Bible. And even in a material point of view; among the versions present today, only the King James Bible matched as the highest with the discovered Dead Sea Scrolls in 1947 by 95%, again with Hebrew in the Old testament and Aramaic (ancient Greek) in the New Testament.

The illustrations can go on for hours but I do believe by faith and with conviction that this is the Word of God in English. God himself promised that He would preserve His words for all generations (Psalm 12:6-7) and that He will not leave us without council. This is where a Believer's authority rests.

A popular argument against the Bible is always "This is only based on man's interpretation." To which I plea that before one discredits it, read it all first please, then find out:  Who the subject of the whole Book is and what the subject is about. For in the end, one will plainly see that it's about God (Elohim), His relationship with man (His beloved creature) and the redemption of man in Jesus Christ. Additionally, in 2 Peter 1:20 - 21, it states: Knowing first that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man; but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

If there is an effort to persuade a person about the Book, it's merely to convey that God created man to be with Him for all times and that can happen through His Son. His Son who came as promised (in the books of Genesis, Psalms, Isaiah, among others), died and resurrected for us all. This was to set a sort of visual example that if we trust in the Resurrected one, after we perish (in our mortal coil), we also will be resurrected like He was.

Before I end this piece may I just say also, that I am not blogging with a halo on my head, I do fail as a Believer, mostly because I fail to look upon the Lord's face, to follow His will for me or to meditate on His Word. It is my prayer and hope that each time I fall I will remember that this Book can be personal for me, as if written just for me; God's love letter to me for a companion and as a teacher, and perhaps to you also, if you so desire.

 (Could not resist taking this pic inside the chapel in Windsor)